--- title: Hidden Costs of Running Parallel Accounting Systems description: Have you ever had to run parallel accounting systems during an accounting system conversion? Learn all about the hidden costs that come with running parallel systems and how SYMPAQ can ensure your conversion, and your business, continue running smoothly. image: https://sql.sympaq.com/hubfs/Lonely%20Iceberg-598142-edited.jpg --- [Contact: 800-437-8151](tel:18004378151) [Help Desk](https://aldebaron.assist.com/portal) [![DCAA Compliant Accounting System | SYMPAQ](https://sql.sympaq.com/hubfs/crop-trans-logo.png "Government Contract Cost Accounting")Project Cost Accounting Software for Government Contractors](https://www.sympaq.com/) - [PRODUCTS](https://www.sympaq.com/) - [SYMPAQ Accounting](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-sql/) - [SYMPAQ Time & Expense](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-etx/) - [SYMPAQ DEMOS](https://www.sympaq.com/demos/) - [PRICING](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-pricing/) - [SERVICES](https://www.sympaq.com/services/) - [AUDITS](https://www.sympaq.com/dcaa-audits/) - [DCAA Audits](https://www.sympaq.com/dcaa-audits/) - [Single Audits](https://www.sympaq.com/a-133-audits/) - [RESOURCES](https://www.sympaq.com/#) - [Events / Webinars](https://www.sympaq.com/events-schedule/) - [SYMPAQ Demos](https://www.sympaq.com/demos/) - [Useful Links](https://www.sympaq.com/useful-links/) - [BLOG](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog) [![REQUEST DEMO](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2695973/fa292e59-f01d-4acf-b907-53fc989efa07.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2695973/fa292e59-f01d-4acf-b907-53fc989efa07) [![DCAA Compliant Accounting System | SYMPAQ](https://sql.sympaq.com/hubfs/crop-trans-logo.png "Government Contract Cost Accounting")Project Cost Accounting Software for Government Contractors](https://www.sympaq.com/) - [PRODUCTS](https://www.sympaq.com/) - [SYMPAQ Accounting](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-sql/) - [SYMPAQ Time & Expense](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-etx/) - [SYMPAQ DEMOS](https://www.sympaq.com/demos/) - [PRICING](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-pricing/) - [SERVICES](https://www.sympaq.com/services/) - [AUDITS](https://www.sympaq.com/dcaa-audits/) - [DCAA Audits](https://www.sympaq.com/dcaa-audits/) - [Single Audits](https://www.sympaq.com/a-133-audits/) - [RESOURCES](https://www.sympaq.com/#) - [Events / Webinars](https://www.sympaq.com/events-schedule/) - [SYMPAQ Demos](https://www.sympaq.com/demos/) - [Useful Links](https://www.sympaq.com/useful-links/) - [BLOG](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog) [![REQUEST DEMO](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2695973/fa292e59-f01d-4acf-b907-53fc989efa07.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2695973/fa292e59-f01d-4acf-b907-53fc989efa07) [![DCAA Compliant Accounting System | SYMPAQ](https://sql.sympaq.com/hubfs/crop-trans-logo.png "Government Contract Cost Accounting")Project Cost Accounting Software for Government Contractors](https://www.sympaq.com/) menu close close - PRODUCTS - [SYMPAQ Accounting](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-sql/) - [SYMPAQ Time & Expense](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-etx/) - [SYMPAQ DEMOS](https://www.sympaq.com/demos/) - [PRICING](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-pricing/) - [SERVICES](https://www.sympaq.com/services/) - RESOURCES - [Events / Webinars](https://www.sympaq.com/events-schedule/) - [Useful Links](https://www.sympaq.com/useful-links/) - [BLOG](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog) ## Blog ### Subscribe to our Blog # Hidden Costs of Running Parallel Accounting Systems [Government Contractor](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/government-contractor), [Business Tips](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/business-tips) 06/19/2018 [G. Chris Brown](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/author/cbrown) ![Lonely Iceberg-598142-edited](https://sql.sympaq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Lonely%20Iceberg-598142-edited.jpg?width=274&name=Lonely%20Iceberg-598142-edited.jpg)After months of meetings and detailed presentations, your proposal for an upgrade to your company’s accounting system has been accepted.  You must now plan the conversion process to minimize costs and operational downtime.  Running parallel systems during conversions is popular with IT.  The effort is perceived as a lower risk conversion method compared to direct changeover.  However, there are some extra costs and hidden disadvantages to running parallel systems that you and your colleagues should know about.    **Higher Costs ** A major inefficiency with running parallel accounting systems is higher labor costs. [Accounting technicians](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/dont-just-hire-an-accountant-hire-a-creative-accountant) must enter data twice for new projects. They also must make changes and updates to existing initiatives in both systems while the conversion takes place. Their managers must monitor and review data in two systems as well. Costly temporary workers, who have special skills and clearances, may have to be hired to keep up with mission critical tasks.  **Longer Duration to Complete Tasks** New workers usually need extra time to get up to speed on projects even if they’re highly skilled; this could cause schedule delays. If your organization chooses not to hire temporary workers, it will take longer for your existing workforce to accomplish the same amount of work in two systems than it would in one system. Learning a [new platform](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/how-long-will-it-take-to-implement-your-software) while doing double work could impact productivity for temporary or permanent accounting workers.                             **Greater Probability of Errors** Operating parallel systems increases the complexity of accounting tasks.  When this happens, there is a greater chance that accounting technicians will make errors. Workers must then find the mistake and make corrections so that their data is identical in both systems. This lowers productivity and can temporarily impact morale, as frustration builds.  **Additional Maintenance** Your IT staff already handles a fair amount of trouble tickets and help desk requests regularly.  You’re hoping that when the new system is fully deployed many of those requests will go away.  Your staff will then be able to concentrate on other efforts.  However, if your organization runs parallel systems during an upgrade project, it’s likely that your IT staff’s workload will increase until the new system is fully deployed.   **Extended Training ** As [defense contractors](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/5-challenges-federal-government-contracting), you can take a page from your military customer’s handbook when it comes to training.  They believe that you should “train like you fight.” This means that training must align with operations to be effective. If you have two systems running at the same time, it may take longer for some workers to fully grasp all the features of the new system.    You can avoid these higher costs and drawbacks by deploying [SYMPAQ](https://www.sympaq.com/cost-accounting-products/) via the direct changeover method. A demo of the product can help you and your staff determine its ease of use out of the box. It can also uncover any needs for customizations that you’ll want to make before deploying the system enterprise-wide.    References: [http://smallbusiness.chron.com/changeover-techniques-34890.html ](http://smallbusiness.chron.com/changeover-techniques-34890.html)[http://smallbusiness.chron.com/accounting-information-system-conversion-methods-34569.html](http://smallbusiness.chron.com/accounting-information-system-conversion-methods-34569.html)[https://bizfluent.com/info-12014696-two-disadvantages-parallel-conversion.html](https://bizfluent.com/info-12014696-two-disadvantages-parallel-conversion.html)[https://medium.com/homeland-security/train-like-you-fight-and-fight-like-you-train-1787c0b78fde](https://medium.com/homeland-security/train-like-you-fight-and-fight-like-you-train-1787c0b78fde) ### Recent Blogs February, 07 2025 ## [Strong Headwinds Ahead for Federal Government Contractors in 2025](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/5-challenges-federal-government-contracting-0) [Government Contractor](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/government-contractor) [Accounting Software](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/accounting-software) [SYMPAQ Benefits](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/sympaq-benefits) [Business Tips](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/business-tips) [Headwinds](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/headwinds) Poised to bid on contracts with the Federal Government? you will likely encounter challenges with procurement regulations and bureaucracy.[ Read the Blog](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/5-challenges-federal-government-contracting-0) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/5-challenges-federal-government-contracting-0#comments-listing) January, 10 2025 ## [End of Year Tax Form Filing Has Never Been Easier!](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/end-of-year-tax-form-filing-has-never-been-easier) [tax](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/tax) [2024](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/2024) As we learned last year when the paper filing threshold dropped from 250 for each tax form to 10 tax forms in aggregate (i.e., 1099-NEC plus 1099-Misc plus W2), one should no longer be contemplating t\[...\][ Read the Blog](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/end-of-year-tax-form-filing-has-never-been-easier) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/end-of-year-tax-form-filing-has-never-been-easier#comments-listing) December, 04 2024 ## [Another Year, Another End-of-Year Update](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/2024-year-end-of-year-update) [2024](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/2024) One thing we've learned over the years as a software publisher is that unless you are planning on sunsetting a legacy application, you are never "done" with development.[ Read the Blog](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/2024-year-end-of-year-update) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/2024-year-end-of-year-update#comments-listing) ![](https://sql.sympaq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crop-trans-logo.png?width=200&name=crop-trans-logo.png) We are focused on delivering reliable cost accounting, timekeeping and expense reporting solutions to labor-intensive federal government contractors and not-for-profit organizations in search of fully compliant, standards-based, project accounting software. ### Get In Touch [contact@sympaq.com](mailto:contact@sympaq.com) Local phone:[(301) 670-0858](tel:3016700858) Fax: (301) 840-1591 15839 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855. [Privacy Policy](https://www.sympaq.com/privacy-policy/) [Cookie Policy](https://www.sympaq.com/cookie-policy/) [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sympaq.com/terms-and-conditions/) ### Subscribe to Our Blog Get the latest business resources on the market delivered to your inbox. Copyright © 2023 Aldebaron, Inc. All rights reserved. Website by [IMGdigitalAgency.com](https://www.imgdigitalagency.com/) [![](https://sql.sympaq.com/hubfs/blue-seal-bbb.png)](https://www.bbb.org/us/md/rockville/profile/computer-software-developers/sympaq-0241-236013238#sealclick) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=1997524&fmt=gif) × ### Speak to a Specialist Find out how SYMPAQ makes DCAA compliance a breeze. Fill out the form below to speak with a SYMPAQ team member. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "G. 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